Page 47
Dad blinks at him, raising a brow. “Are you done?”
“No,” he mutters. “I see how it is. You just want to silence me. Well—”
Having had enough of his ramblings, and just wanting to get this meeting over so I can get back to my Bunny, I take the fake banana that’s in my hand and shove it into Shepherd's mouth.
His eyes widen before he starts to gag, coughing dramatically as he spits it out. “Are you trying to kill me?”
“It’s a good thing you’re not gay. Your gag reflex is shit.”
“I’ll show you a gag reflex.” He gets to his feet, pulling his blade from his pocket. He flicks it open, ready to stab me with it when Father slams his hands down on the table, done with our bullshit.
“Enough!” he roars and the three of us still, our full attention on the man who still has the power to send tendrils of terror slithering down our backs. “If you’re not willing to take this seriously, then I’ll have someone else deal with the Rafe situation.”
“No,” I tell him, shaking my head. “We’re sorry. We’re listening. We’ll deal with Rafe.”
“Now.” Father leans back in his seat. “The reason I called you here. It seems like there’s been an increase of Rafe’s men around Stonehead Creek. Based on the past sightings of his men’s interest in Cove, I’m assuming they’re here for her. They’ve only been seen in Stonehead, not any of the surrounding cities or towns. Cove or not, they’re in our territory, somewhere they have no right to be, and they’re messing with one of our own. I won’t allow it.” I can’t help the rush of pride that fills my chest at him calling Cove one of ours.
While others might consider our obsession with her unhealthy, a distraction, or weakness, our father sees it as what it is. An undying devotion to the woman we love. It’s the same way he was with our mother. That woman was his reason for breathing and the loss of her nearly destroyed him.
“With Cove on your property, she’s safe. Keep her there until we find out what Rafe wants with her. She is not to leave.”
“We weren’t planning on it,” Saint confirms, nodding.
“Any time one of our men comes across one of his, they will bring them in for questioning. When they do, I’ll call you three and you can interrogate them and do what you see fit. By allowing his men on our turf, we’re within our rights to do what we need to do.”
“Do you think we’re the reason why?” Saint asks. “That they’re using Cove to get to us. Do you think they know how much Cove means to us, and by taking her, it will start a war?
“If he wants a war, he’s going to have to bring it to us. I have too much to fucking worry about to be concerned with some pathic wannabe gangster taking on more then he can handle. Dmitry Volkov is not to be fucked with,” Father snarls. “That goes for my sons and their wife as well.”
“Wife.” Shepherd sighs happily. “You think she would marry one of us? And by one of us, I mean me?”
“If she’s going to officially marry one of us, it’s going to be me,” I tell him, arms crossed over my chest, amused with him as always.
“You!?” He frowns. “Why you?”
“Because I’m the oldest.”
“So? I’m the better brother.”
“Out,” Father commands.
“What?” Shepherd pouts.
“I don’t have time for your crazy today. I have a meeting in ten. I just wanted to call you in to let you know what will be happening from here on out. If I need you, I’ll call you. Otherwise, enjoy your woman. Have fun. Make all the babies. Give me an heir.”
“Don’t need to tell me twice.” Shepherd jumps to his feet. “Later, Pops.” He blows him a kiss and shoots him a wink before rushing out.
“Where are you going?” Saint shouts after him. “We drove here together.”
“I know,” he cackles. “You can walk, suckers! That gives me more time alone with my Bunny.”
“That little shit.” I get to my feet.
Father shakes his head, chuckling. “Go.”
“Thank you, Father.” I nod my head.
“Of course.” He nods back. “I look forward to meeting my daughter-in-law.” He winks.
